Folding trestle



y 1934. R. DE YOUNG 1,960,991

FOLDING TRE STLE Filed June 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A'Wovhai May 29; 1934. 5 YOUNG 1,960,991

FOLDING TRE STLE Filed Juneo5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 29, 1934 7 1,960,991 FDLDING TRESTLE Ralph De Young, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application June 5, 1933, Serial No. 674,277

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a supporting device and more particularly to a folding trestle or horse.

Briefly described, my invention consists of folding means which presents a very compact arrangement when folded whereby it may be easily carried from one place to another and when opened it provides an extremely stout and sturdy construction for the support ofmembers upon which a person may stand, as, for instance,

a paper hanger when engaged in his occupation.

One of the main features of my invention lies in the construction of the joint between the two leg members and the horizontal cross bar, this type of joint being such as to permit these three members to fold in exact alinement with each other and then permitting the horizontal memher to be turned through three-fourths of the arc of a circle to its horizontal position, the up- 00 per ends of the legs extending into recesses in the horizontal member and compressing the same between them, a tension member serving as the fulcrum about which the supporting legs swing.

Another advantage resides in the connection between the two horizontal members and like- Wise the horizontal spacing member located intermediate the top and bottom of the leg members shows a novel type of joint.

3 Further advantageswill become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings v Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one end of my invention, it being pointed out that each end 05 construction is substantially the same and consequently only one end needs be described.

Fig. 2 is a view in cross section taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an underplan view in section, this view being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view, this view showing the sheet metal channel brace intermediate the leg members, the dotted line showing the same in folded position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing the inner end of the horizontal member.

Fig. 9 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the 55. line 10-10 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the unit in compact folded position.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View showing my invention in complete assembled relation.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 designates one leg, 11 the opposite leg, 12 the horizontal member and 5 13 the leg spacing bar.

A closed wire loop member 14, see particularly Figs. 2 and 3, encircles the upper ends of the legs 10 and 11, resting in notches 15 and 16, respectively, and metal plates 17 and 18 hold the legs in pivotal relationship with the loop member during the folding of the device. The loop member l l passes underneath the horizontal member 12, see Fig. 4, and a plate 19 attaches the horizontal member so that it may swing about the loop 14, the horizontal member 12 moving as indicated by the arrow B in Fig. 1 during the folding operation.

.As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the horizontal member 12 is recessed on opposite sides as indicated at 20 and the upper ends of the leg members ride upwardly into these openings as the horizontal member is turned downwardly thereupon.

When this occurs, the leg members are forced apart by the intermediate member 13, this memher being formed of sheet metal and having a channel shape, see Fig. 5. The web of the channel member 13 is cut away at one end and a U- shaped loop 21 welded thereto as shown in Fig.

6, this U-shaped member 21 riding in the groove 9 22 formed in the outer face of the leg 10. Thus the member 13 may be swung downwardly as indicated by the arrow C in Fig. 5, the channel member telescoping about the leg 10 as shown by the dotted line construction therein. The other leg member 11, see Figs. 5 and '7, receives a spring clip member 23 having curved resilient arms 24. These arms are return bent to form locking extensions as clearly shown in Fig. 7 and during upward movement the free bifurcated end of the member 13 cams against the arms forcing them to the positions as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. '7. Openings 25, see Fig. 5,

are provided in the flanges of the member 13 and receive the locking extensions to prevent re- 9 turn movement of the brace 13 until the spring clip member 23 is manually released. The free end of the web of the channel member 13 limits its upward movement. Thus the intermediate member 13 is forced upwardly to horizontal posiparts tion whereby it automatically locks and then it may be unlocked by manual operation as will be readily understood.

The free end of the horizontal member 12 has a notch 31 cut in its vertical face and a recess 32 cu; in its bottom face, this construction being shown in Figs. 10 and 11. A holding element consists of a vertical portion 33 and a shorter horizontal portion the former riding in the notch 31 and the latter extending into the recess 32. This holding element also has an upper horizontal portion 35 and terminates in a vertical depending portion 36. A plate 37 extends along the vertical face of the horizontal member 12 and also continues thereunder, see Fig. 9, and thus securely ati aches the holding element for pivotal movement. A second notch 38 receives the vertical portion 36 of the holding element when it is swung to inoperative position, shown bythe dotted lines in Fig. 8. v

Fig. 12 shows the device in folded relationship, the horizontal bar 12 lying between and in alinement with the legs 10 and 11, as is clearly shown, and the upper right hand end of this bar is rounded as indicated at 9, whereby, when desired, itis rotated in a counter clockwise direction through three-fourths of a revolution whereupon its lower edge abuts against one side of the loop 14 as shown in Fig. 4 and whereupon the upper ends of the legs 10 and 11 ride into their positions in the recesses 12, see Fig. 2, and then the intermediate spacing member 13 is moved upwardly to lock thelegs 10 and 11 in spaced apart braced relationship.

After both sections are opened, the holding elements are placed alongside of each other and tilted downwardly adjacent each other whereupon the horizontal poriions 35 rest upon the respective adjacent bar and the portions 36 prevent separationof these members 12. It is to be noted that the leg constructions may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to each other. I

From the above description, it will be appreciated that my device is of relatively light construction but nevertheless, when unfolded, assumes a very rigid position whereby it supports the person or object thereon without distortion and eliminates any swaying movement. Also, when disassembled and in folded relationship, it assumes an extremely compact form whereby it may be easily carried from place to place.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States.

I claim:

1. In combination, a supporting means having a horizontal member extending therefrom, a sec- 0nd supporting means likewise having a horizontal member extending therefrom, means for slidably attaching one end of one of the horizontal members adjacent to the other horizontal member and means comprising a pivotally mounted hook member extending from the free end of the other horizontal member and adapted to extend over the adjacent horizontal member, the said horizontal member which has the pivotal hook thereon also having a recess therein adapted to receive the vertical portion of said hook for the purpose described.

2. The combination of elements as set forth in claim 1 in which said pivotal hook means has stop means thereon for limiting the movement of said hook in one direction.

3. A horse comprising two leg members with corresponding notches near one end, a continuous loop member pivotally engaged in said notches, means for holding said loop in the notches, a horizontal member spaced between said leg mem bers and means for pivoting one edge of said horizontal member onto one edge of said loop.

4. The combination of elements as set forth in claim 3 in which the horizontal member has recesses therein, said recessesbeing adapted to receive the adjacent ends of the said leg memhere.

5. A joint construction adapted to maintain the ends of three members in abutting relation- 10'5 ship when the members are in alined position and to hold the central member from complete rotary movement with respect to the other two members comprising, a loop member pivotally attached to the outer two members and extending around the three members when the same are in alined position and means for attaching one edge of the central member onto the adjacent loop portion whereby the central member may be rotated through approximately three-fourths of a 1-1-5 revolution for the purpose described.

6. The combination of elements as recited in claim 5 in which the central member has recesses formed therein, said recesses receiving the adjacent ends of the leg members when said leg 1-20 members are positioned at right angles to the horizontal member and additional means for maintaining the said legs in spaced apart relationship.

'7. In a construction of the class described having two leg members pivotally connected together at their ends for a predetermined limited movement, the combination of, means for spreading said legs, said means including a channel member pivoted onto one of said legs and having its web 13c cut away near the outer end whereby it straddles the other end and spring means for maintaining the channel member in operative position.

RALPH DE YOUNG. 

